Greener Cities: A Small Park on a Busy Street — Reading comprehension exercise

There is a small piece of empty land near Ben’s apartment. People used to leave rubbish there. Now, the city is turning it into a small park. Workers remove the rubbish and build a path. They also plant young trees and put in two benches.

Ben visits the park with his grandmother. She likes the benches because she needs to rest when she walks to the shops. Ben likes having a place to sit outside. However, the new trees are still small. They do not give much shade yet. Shade is an area where something blocks direct sunlight.

Some neighbors are happy about the park. Others worry about noise in the evening. At a meeting, they discuss how to keep the space pleasant for everyone. They agree to ask visitors to use the bins and avoid loud music.

Ben knows that one small park cannot solve every problem in a city. Still, it has changed this corner of his street. There is now a place where neighbors can meet, sit down, and spend time outdoors.